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McDowell walks away after hard crash
Associated Press
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McDowell was going into the first turn of his second lap when his No. 00 Toyota got loose, then slammed almost headfirst into the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier. The car ricocheted off the wall and onto its roof, then rolled at least eight times before finally coming to rest at the bottom of the high-banked track.
As he got out of the crumbled car, McDowell waved to the crowd indicating that he was OK.
"I feel great, nothing broke," McDowell said. "I didn't lose consciousness. I felt every roll down the hill."
McDowell said he had "few little bumps and bruises," but was fine other than that.
While McDowell said he didn't know what happened, he said something "didn't quite feel right" on the car when he came out of fourth turn on the first lap.
"For me to walk away from that wreck is unbelievable," McDowell said. "I'm going to count my blessings tonight and thank God for this opportunity to walk away from that wreck."
Car owner Michael Waltrip had some anxious moments waiting for McDowell to get out of the car.
"Just from the time it stopped flipping until we saw Michael come out, it seemed like forever," Waltrip said. "That was an amazing crash."
Qualifying was delayed for more than an hour while track officials made temporary repairs to the wall. After qualifying, a 20-foot section of the SAFER barrier was replaced.
"With the initial hit and everything that happened after, I'm real happy he walked away," said Carl Edwards, who qualified second in a run before McDowell's accident. "I'm surprised he's not hurt in any way. That's a testament to the safety equipment."
McDowell made his Cup debut last week at Martinsville. A developmental driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, he was promoted to the Cup level to fill a hole in the lineup created when Dale Jarrett retired.
The 23-year-old McDowell had a decent run - he finished 26th - but drew the ire of several veterans for not moving out of the way and holding them up. McDowell has just four career starts in the Nationwide Series, and most of his experience is in ARCA.
Based on owner points, McDowell will start 40th in the backup car for the Samsung 400 on Sunday.
McDowell appeared to be slightly limping when he first got out of the car, but he said he felt better after walking around a bit. He said he was aware of what was going on while his car tumbled down the track.
"I should have, but I didn't close my eyes. I just kind of rode it out," he said. "It wasn't a fun ride, that's for sure. I stand here with a smile on my face because I'm fortunate."
Member Comments
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dfdsgdfh4/9/2008 17:35:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Markio. Take your stupid ads somewhere else.
waddy4/6/2008 9:42:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Man that was some wreck... I was half paying attention when I heard my better half let out a "oh my god Biiiillllyyyy" I turned just in time to see him start his barrel rolls... <br /><br />Big time testament to the COT's safety...
BIllyDelyon4/5/2008 11:33:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Glad to see that McDowell survived the wreck.. All you can really say is Welcome to the big time!
pb99994/5/2008 10:14:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Glad to see McDowell was alright after that wreck. Luck and Saftey to your drivers this weekend. Chevygirl
chevygirl8814/5/2008 9:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
oops typo. Should have been anyone, guess my fingers are too slow for my brain speed.
attuser4/5/2008 8:44:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Morning all. Glad to see McDowell walk away from that one. Does yone know where the "rock farm" is that the dummies in here earlier crawled out of? They should stay on boards that fit their IQs, like duh.com.
attuser4/5/2008 8:37:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Have these reporters never seen a wreck before. All four articles on main page top left about this wreck.(11:20est). DW says he's never seen anything like it. WHAT??? Theres been much worse. Get over it. Just how much experience does this kid Waltrip threw in this car have? Is he really ready for this? Maybe that would be a better article than these about the crash. HEADLINE: DOES MCDOWELL NEED TO BE IN CUP???????????????
bluovl4/5/2008 8:25:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey POMV, it's been my experience that anyone who has to brag to strangers about how much he makes, how big his house is and what he drives has serious issues. Maybe you should spend more time learning to spell and less time trying to convince people you're all that!
castiron124/5/2008 7:58:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
OOUCH 3 guess i touched a nurve mission completed
runwhatyabrung4/5/2008 6:23:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Now I've said my abc's tell me what you think of me.<br /><br />Thats 1st grade songs. Stick to them.
3wasthegreatest4/5/2008 5:58:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
It also looks like there are some kids on here now. Quote: "looks like mommy and daddy were out the kiddies got no the computer." Is that baby talk like ga ga and goo goo? Never mind, I can't believe they let those 1st graders have computers. Don't they know that children that age are not good sentence structurers and cannot spell? I guess it takes all kinds.
3wasthegreatest4/5/2008 5:55:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
LOOKing back at last nights posts, looks like mommy an daddy were out the kiddies got no the computer
runwhatyabrung4/5/2008 5:46:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
desotorandy, I'm thinking the new wing had alot to do with it, when you see them get lose now and save it they all say its the new wing, i think once the front tires hooked the wing down force caught the car and tried to bring it back straight
runwhatyabrung4/5/2008 5:41:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Lol I just read the article again. You mean to tell me that Mikey has developmental drivers? Is that a joke?? Developmental drivers...Mikey has got them. Who does the developing?? I would hate to think that there are drivers out there who have been developed by Mikey. NO wonder the safer walls are being rushed in at all the tracks. They need them on all the freeways as well with those Mikey developed drivers coming of age. LOL this is just too funny. Mikey developing drivers.
3wasthegreatest4/5/2008 5:32:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
PS. have a beer an do the same makes it tast better
runwhatyabrung4/5/2008 5:29:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
motorgator...naaw he was think straight, and thanked the right person
runwhatyabrung4/5/2008 5:28:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
They tell me that ladydi is on vacation. Someone said she dug up her septic tank and was using it as a pool so she could save money on travel expenses to and from the beach. Plus, she says it gives her that not so fresh feeling that she loves. Only problem she reported was she kept getting corn in her grill.<br /><br />This just in: Her neighbor(The landfill attendant) put the top on the septic tank with ladydi still in the tank. From what we can gather he thought that a living terd was trying to get out of the tank and he took action to save mankind. That explains why ladydi has always had negative things to say about RID-X. Rest in peace ladydi, rest in peace.
3wasthegreatest4/5/2008 5:23:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey your name is Mikey just like Mikey's is!!<br /><br />Hey Mikey you crash cars just like Mikey does!!<br /><br />Hey Mikey you proved you couldn't drive last week just like Mikey does every week!!<br /><br />Hey Mikey dont believe Mikey when Mikey tells you that hitting the walls are his good luck charm. Hey Mikey, that actually hurts performance.<br /><br />Hey Mikey you should put that stolen swaybar from Roush to better use just like Mikey tries to!!<br /><br />Hey Mikey you make Mikey proud by imitating his crashing style!!<br /><br />Hey Mikey did you know your car owner is Mikey the Lush and he crashes a lot plus, he uses jet fuel and steals parts from other teams??<br /><br />Hey Mikey are you a lying, cheating drunk just like Mikey is?<br /><br />Plenty of similiarities here!! Maybe Mikey is a clone of Mikey. If Mikey prefers men like Mikey it is a sure thing!!<br /><br />sHaKe AnD bAkE!!<br /><br />That...just...happened!!!<br /><br /><br />These statements are all beef with no fillers.<br /><br />Brought to you by: Mikeycheatingdrunkenliar.com
3wasthegreatest4/5/2008 5:08:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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